Our Rhodesian Heritage

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Duke of Connaught's Tour of Rhodesia - 1910

Duke of Connaught

Earlier the Duke had toured South Africa and thereafter the tour
moved on to Rhodesia.

The arrival at Livingstone, a few miles north of the Falls, in time
for lunch, was marked by the heartiness of the welcome from the
three hundred white inhabitants holding this outpost of civilisation
among black and still primitive tribes. In a stirring speech the Duke addressed them as pioneers of Empire,
and encouraged them to persevere in their splendid work

In the course of the afternoon his Royal Highness walked and drove
all over the town, and expressed surprise and admiration at the
three years' growth. The party visited the hospital, where all three
talked with the patients, and took a great interest in the excellent
equipment The Duke recognised a sergeant of the local police as a
man who served with him at Aldershot, and commended him for the
brave conduct which caused his injuries. His Royal Highness also had
a long chat with an old Dutchman who fought on the Boer side at
Majuba. "I have come," said his Royal Highness, "on an errand of
peace. We must forget our old quarrels."

Livingstone, November 18. This morning service was held on the
verandah of Government House, the new Cathedral not being ready.
This afternoon there was a launch trip with a tea-picnic on the
river, and a sham hippopotamus fight.

Several canoe-loads of chocolate-coloured hunters, with their heads
decorated with gaudy tufts of feathers, and wearing little else,
showed intense eagerness in stalking and spearing the straw hippo,
and there were barbaric songs of joy, accompanied by tom-toms, as
they towed the corpse home. This greatly amused the Royal party.

Livingstone, November 14. Rain at night cooled the air for the
parade of the fine body of native military police at nine o'clock
this morning. The Duke congratulated the officers on the men's
smartness and steadiness, and the evident enjoyment with which they
drilled. The exercises proved an instructive contrast. The men had a
very soldierly appearance in their neat uniforms, when compared with
a number of natives composing the bodyguard of Lewanika, the Barotse
chief. It is marvellous how a few months of British training
transforms naked savages into excellent soldiers, who are neat in
appearance, self-respecting, warmly attached to their officers, and
proud of their regiment When the royal salute was given on the
Duke's arrival, the National Anthem blared out, and the Royal
Standard was broken at the flag-stafi; it was impossible not to feel
a deep thrill of patriotic emotion at the great work Britain is
doing here.

That it is being done, thanks to the Native Commissioners with the
full co-operation of the native rulers, was emphasised this
afternoon by the striking interview between the Duke of Connaught
and King Lewanika, whose chieftain ship is acknowledged by a hundred
and twenty thousand Barotses.

At four o'clock a procession of five hundred warriors escorted the
old chief to Government House. The native drums and other
instruments made a tremendous din, which increased when the Duke
appeared on the verandah. There were yells and roars of welcome, and
the whole body dropped on their knees in the road and clapped their
hands, the Barotse form of salutation. Lewanika did not make
obeisance. He was in a uni-form covered with gold lace, with a large
curved sword and gold spurs,both of which he found very
embarrassing. He was allowed to approach reverentially, and shake
the Duke by the hand, but his son and Prime Minister knelt and
clapped his hands, according to custom.

An interchange of complimentary speeches and presents followed, the
latter including a blue monkey in a cage.

The chief departed amid clouds of dust and renewed uproar. He has
killed many bullocks, and will hold a great feast to celebrate the
honour done him.

He told me afterwards that he was deeply touched by the Dukes
fatherly kindness, and would keep a vivid recollection of the
courtesy of King George when he visited London.

The Royal party are immensely popular with everybody. In spite of
the heat they visited the golf and rifle clubs this morning, and
late in the afternoon gave a general invitation to the white people
to a tea-party and the planting of a commemoration tree in the
public gardens.

November 15. Just after dinner this evening (on the journey from
Livingstone to Salisbury ind Bulawayo) a glare was seen in the sky,
and voices singing in a stentorian volume were heard. In a few
minutes the train stopped at Wankie's Colliery, a township in the
midst of the limitless veld, with an output of 500 tons of coal per
day.

A huge bonfire blazed on the hill close to the line, and the royal
salute was fired. The white population (about seventy) crowded round
the saloon of the Duke, who immediately appeared, and thanked them
for coming. He asked about the health of the place, and chatted of
the prospects of the mines and the country generally for ten
minutes. Meanwhile five hundred native colliers continued to sing "God Save the King"
unceasingly, and when the train pulled out they cheered in genuine
British fashion.

The Duke's ready response to, and frank pleasure in such
demonstrations of loyalty is doing a great deal to rivet the ties of
Imperial sentiment.

By emphasising the common allegiance of all Britons to the throne
and flag, he brings home to these pioneers of civilisation the pride
and responsibility attaching to British citizenship, and makes
better citizens of them. The spirit in which the Duke regarded his
mission is illustrated by his re- quest that as many officials as
possible should be invited to lunch and dinner at the Government
House, Livingstone, instead of merely a few heads of the
Administration, as arranged before arrival This course adds
considerably to the fatigue of an unusually toilsome tour, but the
Duke never permits himself to appear tired, and leaves everywhere
the impression that he is keenly interested in everything affecting
the country and the Empire, and glad to meet all helping on the
development of the Imperial idea.

Salisbury, November 17. Salisbury has spared neither trouble nor
money to mark its delight at the first visit of any member of the
Royal Family to the capital of Southern Rhodesia. A new Government
House has been built for the occasion, the builders working day and
might for weeks past, the finishing touches being put on only
yesterday, just in time.

In the pleasant gardens surrounding the house a reception was held
this afternoon, when the Duke and Duchess filled large numbers of
loyal hearts with joy by shaking hands with all the guests.

The other events of the day were of the usual character, and
included the presentation of addresses and a Volunteer review; but
all went off with remarkable spirit

Salisbury is going ahead at a great pace, and is anxious to profit
by the opportunity of showing what an energetic and advanced
community it is. The local paper, in an article of welcome, says:"
We believe Rhodesia is destined to become one of the most important
parts of King George's dominions."

This is the general feeling of Rhodesians. Their optimism is like
that of the Canadians, and doubtless equally well grounded. It is
only twenty years since Rhodes's pioneer column camped here. There
was nothing then but bush. The progress in the short time that has
elapsed is marvellous. Mining experts report most favourably on the
gold deposits, agriculture is steadily advancing, and Salisbury
itself is a triumph of the British genius for colonisation. Heading
citizens assure me that the Royal visit will have an excellent
effect.

Salisbury, November 19. To-day's doings began early with a meet of
the Salisbury hounds at five o'clock. There was a good field sharp
to time in the exquisite freshness of a Rhodesia morning. The
hounds, of genuine English breed, were in the pink of condition.
Several of the Duke's suite were out but the Royalties, in view of
the heavy day, were obliged

to forego the sport.

The most interesting event of the morning was a visit to the
Government tobacco factory. This bids fair to be a great Rhodesian
industry. The present year's crop is calculated at half a million
pounds. The industry has now passed the expoimental stage, and is
certain to increase rapidly.

The Duke saw how the leaves were unpacked, steamed, graded, tied up
into bundles, and pressed into bales, and asked a number of
questions about the methods of cultivation and treatment, also about
the possibilities of the market in England. He expressed great
pleasure at the favourable reception of Rhodesian pipe and cigarette
tobaccos in the Mother Country, and at the prospect of a large
consumption in a few years' time.

In the afternoon the Royal party drove out in motors to see the fine
view over the rolling park like landscape stretching away to the
mountain ranges, and later the party spent an hour at a gymkhana on
the polo ground. Although the Duchess and Princess were tired they
would not disappoint the people, and their thoughtfulness was
recognised and appreciated.

They had a great ovation when they drove away. After dinner they
motored the mile and a half from Government House to the Town Hall
between living lamp-posts: natives carrying torches lined each side
of the road. The effect of the flickering light on the statuesque
figures and black faces of the torch bearers was very striking.
Afterwards all joined and marched past, the procession dancing and
waving torches and chanting weird war songs.

Bulawayo, November 21. A picturesque feature of the Duke of
Connaught's arrival here this morning was a large array of natives
lining the road from the station. As the party passed they raised
loud cries of wild welcome and threw themselves in the dust,
writhing and beating their hands together — At their own particular
method of salutation to the "great white chief."

Later there was a procession of Matabele warriors, whose heads were
decorated with huge pink ostrich feathers. They were naked except
for their leopard skins. All shufiled along with rhythmic jumps and
contortions, shaking their assegais and chanting a deep-throated,
monotonous song.

The first thing which the Duke saw when he arrived at the charming
Government House, which is reached by a three-mile drive, most of
the way along a beautiful avenue of fir-trees, was the tree under
which Lobengula, the Matabele chief, sat when he pronounced his
bloodthirsty decrees. It is almost incredible that so much has been
done towards civilisation in twenty years.

Bulawayo, November 21. The weather, which has so far been unusually
fine for this time of the year, has broken, but fortunately held up
until after the visit to that marvellously beautiful spot in the
Matopo Hills where Rhodes was laid to

rest.

Brilliant sunshine prevailed in the early morning, when the Royal
party inspected several of the schools. They were greatly struck by
the large airy buildings and the strong, healthy appearance of the
children, the best testimony to the climate. The Chartered Company
have made large school grants, and are determined that the education
here will be the best obtainable. The carpenter's shop was specially commended by the
Duke, who was also keenly interested in the chemical laboratory.
When the time came to leave the Boys' School the Duke had to be
hunted for, and was found watching an experiment being made by two
small boys.

A little before noon seven motors set off under a cool, grey sky for
the Matopos, twenty-five miles distant The road passes the dam or
reservoir made to irrigate the Rhodes Farms. Nothing but water is
needed to raise splendid crops here. It was most instructive and
encouraging to come across acres and acres of rich cultivated soil
amidst the bush.

After lunch at the hotel close to the dam, we drove on through the
fine park, dedicated by Rhodes to the use of the people, until we
reached the foot of the great granite kopje, named World's View.
Here rickshaws awaited the ladies, but the Duke, with the other men
climbed the steep, rocky path to the tomb. At the sight of the slab
covering the grave, guarded by a ring of immense boulders, the Duke
took off his hat, and the example was followed by all. The Duke
stood for some minutes in silent meditation, and then turned away to
enjoy the magnificent prospect. The whole party was deeply affected
by the weird beauty and the solemn associations of the spot.

The Royal Party of the Connaughts arriving
at the triumphal arch in Broadway, November 17th 1910.
Photo. National Archives of Rhodesia
Broadway was later renamed to Kingsway.

Duke and Duchess of Connaught arriving at the Drill Hall Salisbury

Duchess of Connaught, Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and Princess
Patricia.
Photo - National Archives of Rhodesia

The Duke as a Freemason

Additional photographs of the tour have been made available by Rob Burrett. Thanks Rob

Planting a tree at LivingstoneLady Wallace is seen with the late Duchess of Connaught and Sir Lawrence Aubrey Wallace, who has resigned the Administratorship, is in the light suit

Extracted
and recompiled by Eddy Norris from the digitised book South Africa
To-Day with an Account of Modern Rhodesia By H. Hamilton Fyfe London
- Eveleigh Nash 1911

ORAFs records its thanks to the History Channel, the author,
photographer/s and publishers.

Bob Manser
(RhAF) and Nick Baalbergen (INTAF) made several photographs
available and I have added them to the article as the original had
none. Thanks Bob and Nick for their support.Addendum

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT VISIT
TO BULAWAYO - NOVEMBER 1910

Caption To PhotographSurrounded by early Rhodesian Freemasons in their regalia, the Duke
of Connaught, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Order of
Freemasons in England, laid the foundation stone of the new English
Church of St, John the Baptist, Bulawayo, in November, 1910. Plans
for the building were drawn up by Mr. F. Masey and when completed,
but without the tower and furniture, the cost was $7 500. The old
church stood on St. Gabriel's site and is known today as St.
Gabriel's Chapel. This picture is one of a collection from a
photograph album found in Norfolk, England, last year (1976
newspaper cutting).

Rob Burrett Writes-

The way it is worded is unclear it seems to suggest to readers that
this is built on the site of Saint Gabriel's. That chapel is in fact
still there and several blocks away. This Church of St John, later
upgraded to cathedral, is several blocks away and the Freemasons,
lead by the Duke, had a ceremonial walk from one consecrated site to
another before laying the stone.

Saint Gabriel's Chapel is not well known and the original core
section is hidden behind other buildings. The Chapel as it is now is
used infrequently. It is a small and peaceful spot, musty with damp
and with many dedications to the early Sisters who ran Saint
Gabriel's Home. AMDG.

End

Thanks to Bob and Liz Manser for sharing their memories and special thanks to Rob Burrett for the additional information

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Whatever Happened to May?

By Angela Hurrell, Bob
Manser and assisted by Eddy Norris

May with flowers

MAY MANSON THOMSON ( Allan Wilson'sFiancé’ )

May Manson Thomson was the second eldest of six children.

Born 6th
October 1860 in Corskie, Garmouth' Scotland, she had three sisters
and two brothers. Her father was Andrew Thomson, a farmer of
Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Scotland and her mother, who died when May
was a young girl, was Charlotte Duncan (nee) Manson.

Garmouth

Major Allan Wilson
(Commanding the Victoria Column)
Born 1856 - Killed at Shangani 4th December 1893

Engaged to Major Allan Wilson of
Shangani Battle fame she became known as the lady who later married
James Dawson, a close friend and comrade of Allan’s. It was he who
retrieved and transported the remains of the Pioneer men after the
ill fated battle against the Matabele.

On his first, very difficult
journey to the site, accompanied by James (Paddy) Reilly and five
Matabele, he buried the remains and carved a memorial into the
trunk of a nearby tree ‘to brave men’. Later he returned to the
site and transferred the remains to Zimbabwe Ruins where they were
reburied. On that trip he also transported grain and other
foodstuffs to the starving widows and children of the Matabele who
had been killed by the Patrol.

After some time those remains were again reinterred at Worlds View
in the Matopos in the Bulawayo area where Cecil John Rhodes was
later buried.

Site of the original burial place of Allan
Wilson's patrol at Shangani

The remains were later removed and buried at Zimbabwe

The Shangani Memorial at the Matopos. The last resting place
of Allan Wilson's Patrol

In 1896 James visited his home town in Scotland. A long time
friend of Allan Wilson, he must have met Allan’s fiancé May much earlier during
Allan’s lifetime.

Left to Right Mr. James Fairbairn and Mr. James
Dawson

James was reputed as knowing the native Matabele better than most,
having enjoyed the complete confidences of Lobengula and Khama who
he included amongst his friends.

Lobengula

He was one of the few trusted whites
as it was said that he never 'trifled' with the natives. His word
was his bond and he did much to inspire the respect that the natives
had for the Englishmen (all considered English, even the Scots!)
He was a brave man, courteous to a fault and bore himself like a
true gentleman. He appears to have been a caring man, one on whom
unpleasant duties were often undertaken when no one else wanted to
carry them out.

Wedding

Of interest was the foresight he had
on the occasion of his wedding when he arranged to have his guests,
locals and from Rhodesia transported in first class carriages from
Garmouth to the school house where his marriage ceremony took place.

Married in October 1896 when May was aged 36 and he 8 years
older, the wedding attracted much publicity and descriptions of the
wedding were published in the newspapers of Elgin, Scotland and
also in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. James was described as a prosperous
South African merchant. A
kind man as evidenced by his journey to rescue the starving Matabele
widows and children after the Shangani Battle, transporting them
back to Bulawayo.

The wedding ceremony, considered
something of a ‘modern romance’ took place in Fochabers and was
celebrated by the townsfolk who revered Allan who was a son of the
village. Much interest was manifest in the burgh of Macduff when
flags floated from the Municipal buildings, from the crafts in the
harbour and from a large number of public and private houses
throughout the town. With the events of the Shangani battle still
fresh in the townsfolk’s minds, it was reported that the story of
their union was of interest the world over.

May's father
had passed away by this time so she was given away by her
brother-in-law Mr Alexander Geddie. May's three sisters and two
brothers and families attended the ceremony. Her nieces were
bridesmaids.

Many gifts were
given and of particular interest was a cheque received from
Holloway Gaol from Dr Jameson and Sir Willoughby. They had been
jailed for the parts they played in the Jameson Raid in South
Africa.

Leander
Starr Jameson

Major Sir
John C. Willoughby Bart.
(Chief Staff Officer to His Honour the Administrator)

After the
wedding James and May returned to Rhodesia where James, who had
given up his military duties, revived his business interests while
farming in Essexvale. These, which he and his brother Alexander
had previously established in the name of Dawson Bros. were based in
an office on the corner of Fife Street and Market Square in
Bulawayo. James was the manager and Alexander, the London based
buyer for the enterprise. Eleven branches were formed in such
places as Khami River, Filabusi, Geelong, Balla Balla, Fairview and
Essexvale. An early map of the Essexvale area shows a farm named
Fochabers which was apparently the property of the Bechuanaland
Charter for whom Allan Wilson had worked. This same farm was later
given to Allan and his family posthumously)

Reports of
parties held in the Dawson's home included friends such as the
hunter Selous, Sam Lee (who had accompanied Livingstone to Lake
Ngami) Bill Finaughty, ‘Old Mahogany’ Ware (who went with
Dawson's brother Alexander when they penetrated the Chobe in 1872)
Edward Swimborne and van Rooyan, (who killed more lions than any
other hunter including one put up for Randolph Churchill's last
shot) Crewe and Farrell, all talking the night away with their
tales of hairbreadth escapes from wild beasts, drought, natives and
disease.

It was
reported that James pegged out Livingstone Falls as his farm but was
persuaded by Rhodes and Jameson to give it up to the world. He
had no clear titles to the spot and the other men interested in the
venture blamed his Highland munificence in surrendering the prize
with no compensation.

One wonders
why the marriage did not last but sadly it did not appear to have
been successful. May returned home to Scotland in 1905 with son
Ronald Maurice aged four (born in Bulawayo on 18th August
1901) which is the date that James moved 800 miles away to
Barotseland’s capital Lealui. His friend King Lewinika welcomed
him and later when the king died his death notice described him as
an old and staunch friend of Britain and the missionaries in his
country. A description of a couple of Scottish men living there at
the time, and another Scottish settler (unnamed) was included. That
was probably James.

James lived
in Barotseland some 16 years and is mentioned in records and books
on Susman Bros. as one of their most important partners and the
biggest cattle buyer in the Valley. He later apparently
experienced financial difficulties as a result of huge cattle losses
from pleuro pneumonia in 1921 and shot himself when he was 70 years
old. He was buried in Mongu Cemetery near Lealui.

May lived in
Scotland and sent her son Ronald to school in Spymouth from where he
progressed to Milnes Institution where both James and Allan Wilson
had been educated.

On leaving
school in 1919 he went to Malaya where he worked for Penang Rubber
Estates. He married Dolina Barbara Falconer on 26thAugust 1937.

According to
the Garmouth Register he was a rubber planter, as registered on his
marriage certificate. She was the daughter of Donald Falconer,
clothier, and Christina (nee) MacLennon.

Ronald and
Dolina had a son James who was born in Malaya in 1941. He never
married and retired as a Dundee lawyer after which he moved to
Forfar in Scotland. Apparently he had no interest in the part that
his grandfather played in Rhodesia and passed away aged 60 after a
heart attack in 2003.

The apparent
lack of interest shown by both Ronald and his son James was only
explained recently by a cousin of May’s, Ian Mackenzie. He gave
the reason for May having left James as being the result of his ill
treatment of her, due he thought, to the worry and stress of losing
all his cattle. As he had moved to Lealui at the same time that
May returned to Scotland, it is not clear whether he had suffered
this loss in Rhodesia which led him to move to Barotseland .

At the time
of her death at the age of 86 May was busy writing another book
dedicated to her grandson. A lover of flowers she took care of
the local war memorial in Garmouth tending it since its erection
after the first World war. She was survived by her son Ronald in
Malaya. He was reputed to have been a prisoner of war of the
Japanese and at the cession returned to work in Malaya where he died
some years
later. May was well loved and recognised as a Moray authoress and a frequent
contributor to journals and magazines, and widely read in the
Northern Scott Newspapers and the Milnes Institute magazines. Of
an arresting personality she was held in great respect in the
district.

AUTHORS
QUEST 2010

When Allan
Wilson of Fochabers, Scotland died during the Shangani Battle in
1893 he left behind his fiancé May Manson Thomson who was a local
girl from Corksie, Garmouth in Scotland. She must have suffered
greatly upon hearing of his fate as Allan was considered a ‘man
amongst men’. One can only imagine her deep sense of loss.

I had so often
wondered what had become of her so in 2010 placed an advert in a
Scottish newspaper calling for information of her family.

Amongst people
who responded were the grandchildren of her sister Isabella Geddie,
Angus and Charlotte (nee) Christie. Correspondence followed and I
received photographs and copies of newspaper cuttings. Another
great nephew Ian Mackenzie had known May well in his young days. He
sent me wedding photographs of May and James.

Mays siblings
were as follows.:-

Jean, the
eldest, was born 24th Feb 1859 and married Alexander
Geddie, son of a Speymouth shipbuilder and headmaster of Balnacoul
School.

Isabella
‘Tibby’ Thomson born 21st October 1862 was married to
Dr. William Stewart Geddie. They moved to Queensland, Australia in
1894 but returned to Scotland in 1900.
In 1903 Phoebe (their daughter) was born and Phoebe had four
children, Angus and Charlotte (Sharley), Emma and Magaret

Angus is in Scotland, and his
sister
Charlotte, now living in Esperance, West Australia. It was Angus, the
family member most interested in genealogy, who contacted me and has
proved a most helpful source of information. He was able to
procure copies of the two books that May wrote as well as many of
her poems and short stories. His other two sisters Emma and
Margaret remembered May as being a ‘feisty lady and of fairly
cheerful disposition’. Some of Mays wedding gifts are still held
by the family

John
Thomson born 13th April 1864 – no further details given.

Charlotte
Thomson 4th April 1806 married Hugh Spencer.

Andrew
Thomson born 17th April 1869 and married to Charlotte
Duncan Manson, daughter of Capt. Sinclair and Mary Ann (nee Walker)

I located
the ‘engagement’ ring that Allan gave to May, (but described as a
signet ring in A.J. Smits story ‘’The Shangani Story’’) It had been
found amongst other Allan Wilson memorabilia that had been presented
to the Allan Wilson School Archives in Rhodesia by May. One
wonders, however, whether there was a ‘proper’ engagement ring as
the one in question does look rather more like a signet ring. Was
there perhaps another ring that May treasured too much to send to
the school?

Peter Dawson,
of Fochabers (no relation to James Dawson) wrote an article ‘’There
were no Survivors’’ which was published in the Northern Scot
Christmas Number of 1989. He forwarded many articles and newspaper
reports that he felt were of interest and assistance to me, as have
a few older folk who have stories of May and her son Ronald and
grandson James. Most of these have been handed down from their
parents who lived near May.

A biography
of James Dawson was written by John O’Reilly and called 'Pursuit of
the King’ but sadly I have been unable to find much relating to
James after he left for Barotseland in 1905 where he lived until his
death in 1921.

Hugh Macmullins
book ‘An African Trading Empire Story of the Susman Bros and
Wulfsohn 1901-2005’ in the chapter on the Sesheke War and the
Cattle Trade 1909-1931 mentions James as the most important of their
partners and the largest cattle buyer in the Valley, and a
contemporary of George Westbreech who had been working in Central
Africa since 1870. Page 114 describes Susman's one time partner
Jimmy Dawson as having ‘‘got into financial difficulties as a result
of the collapse of the cattle trade and died tragically aged 70 in
1921.’’

Mays later life

According to
Mrs. Jean Smith of Banff-shire, Scotland, whose parents lived
opposite May on the Brae remembers May as a very gracious lady who
owned a small dog called Tegas, which, Jean thought, was a
Scottie. She also recalled James, Mays grandson as a young lad
always on his bicycle and later at Varsity where he qualified as a
solicitor. She saw him last at Mays
funeral.. Jean reports that Ronald,
Mays son was a Japanese prisoner of war who worked 'east' to where
he returned at the cessation of war and died there some years
later. The gravestone in Essil states that he died in
Malaya. Jean sent me a copy of Mays signature and notes
that she had written in Jeans autobiography book when Jean was about
12 years old. Always interested in her reading May often
suggested authors who she thought suitable for young Jean.

A few
snippets of May’s book as it is 139 pages long

Extracted from her book

CHAPTER II
SPRING IN RHODESIA

Spring in Rhodesia! Away in the wide, solemn, lonely veldt; far from
the haunts of men, spring comes to us in our peaceful solitude with
something of home sweetness, and power, and charm. Nothing is just
the same, it is true, but in fancy we try to believe it is April and
spring in England, instead of September and spring in Rhodesia.

All over the ground is a faint flush of green;reminding me
pleasantly of the "breer" (the briar) in the corn fields of
Morayshire - the tender yellowy-green of the young mimosas, the deep
funereal shade of the euphorbia, and the wonderful dazzling green of
the wild fig trees - such a green as one never sees in our northern
latitudes; a green that seems to have absorbed the very light of the
sun into it and kept it there. Young figs, like tiny green

Mays books:

May wrote a
small book called ‘Veldt and Heather’ described by Glass as ‘a
trifling empty thing’ but which does give a glimpse of May's
thoughts on her life in Africa at that time.

‘Twa Tinkers’
was her book of poetry. Many other short stories and poems were
written over the years, most of which were published in the Northern
Scot newspapers in their Christmas editions and the Milnes
Institution magazine.

Letters held
by the family include one from the War Office in Droitwich. Worcs
UK dated lst Dec 1948 which records that ‘‘at the suggestion of the
Rhodesian Sec. for Education, (Mr J Cowie) memorials be erected to
Major Allan Wilson and the gallant band who fought at Shangani on 4th
Dec. 1893. This has been done. A series of British War medals all
of them representative of acts of heroism by British Regiments, have
been presented to the Royal Norfolk Regiment, a section of this
regiment served as Mounted Infantry in the Rhodesian Campaign of
1896. Mrs Dawson will doubtless agree that as the Regiment gained
five Victoria Crosses in the war of 1939/45 they are the appropriate
custodians of the memorial to the “These were men of Men and their
fathers were Men before them ’ of Wilson's last stand’

Secondly, that
the Regimental Assoc. has undertaken to forward to the Allan Wilson
School at Salisbury, a memorial silver bugle (or drums if they
prefer) for use with the Cadet Corps, particularly on each
anniversary of Shangani Day. ‘Medals are displayed at the Royal
Masonic School, Bushey, Herts in the hopes that some of the 400 boys
there may be inspired by Major Wilson's example of devotion to duty
in the service of the country’’

Another
letter from V.W. Hillier from the govt Archives in Salisbury dated
10th Nov 1942 wherein May was advised that ‘’in April
1939 I wrote to you regarding the late Major Allan Wilson's ring and
medal. At that time he was unsure as to whether they would be
housed in the Archives or the Bulawayo museum.

He advised her
that the medal, ring and a photo copy of a page from Major Wilson's
diary, bearing his signature, were still there. It was formally
presented to the Allan Wilson School at the end of their Shangani
Day service. Accepting the gifts the headmaster of the school
expressed his pleasure in accepting these items that would be
treasured by the school stating that a small glass case was to be
made to house them in the assembly hall.

Allan Wilson School BadgeThese were men of
men and their fathers were men of men before them (M’Jaan the
Induna)

Recently it was found that the
ring in safe keeping, it having been removed from the school when
Zimbabwe became independent. With recent threats and discussions
by locals in Zimbabwe of obliterating the Shangani and Rhodes graves
and memorials in the Matapos it is with gratitude that these
precious memorabilia are being taken care of.

End

Thanks to Angela and Bob, the long walk to get this story finished
was well worth it Special thanks for your patience.

Above - Gwelo Laager. News of the rising reached Salisbury on 25 March 1896
and a detachment immediately hurried off to Gwelo, then a small settlement with
a population of about 400 Europeans. The defenders swiftly threw up a laager
which consisted of five main buildings, tents and wagons, surrounded by
fortifications of sand-bags and barbed wire. In May a more substantial force
left Salisbury and then combined Salisbury and Gwelo columns then took the
offensive against the rebels.

S. African Tour 1925 - Prince Edward, the Prince of
Wales (later King Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor) on Royal Tour of Africa
- Rhodesia. See
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/s-african-tour (be advised video has
no sound) Loved the way they tested cars in Rhodesia as seen in the footage in
this video.

November 11, 2013
Angela has made three additional photographs available to ORAFs. Thanks Angela.

Rhodes note to Mrs Hurrell in Gwelo laager 1896

Prince of Wales meeting volunteers in Gwelo 1927

Sackie's shop in Gwelo Main Street (Date Unknown)

December 26, 1894 - First Paper,
Gwelo, Rhodesia - The Northern
Optimist, 26th December, 1894, edited by R. B. Nash. It ran for four months, and
later became known as the Gwelo Times in 1895.

Standing R B NASH and Mrs NashSeated Sidney & Mabel Button

Photograph made
available by Syd Wheeler who advises that Sidney and Mabel Button were her
Grandparents, the photograph is dated before 1945 (date of Sidney's death) and
they were in Umvuma from +-
1910